Author Sandra Sookoo

Please join me in welcoming author, Sandra Sookoo. Thank you for joining me today Sandra! Can you please tell our visitors a little about yourself?

How did you get started in writing?
I suppose it was because of my love of reading. Before writing consumed most of my free time, I spent every free hour reading. Then, when I was a freshman in high school, I took a mail-away course in writing for Children/Teenagers. LOL They call it young adult now. That jump started the dream that writing could be a career…eventually.

Why don’t you tell us about your newest/or upcoming release?My most recent release is called THE HAUNTING OF AMELIA PRITCHART. It’s a ghost story just in time for the Halloween season wherein a woman who’s down on her luck is haunted by a 90-year old ghost and her estranged husband at the same time.

Here’s the blurb: Amelia Pritchart’s life is a mess. Her house is crumbling down around her, she’s got a bad case of writer’s block, and divorce papers await her signature. The trouble is, she still loves her husband. And if that’s not bad enough, she comes face to face with a ghost—who has problems of her own. The restless spirit demands Amelia help her tormented soul so she can finally rest in peace. Intrigued, Amelia sets out to grant the wish, but soon finds there’s much more to the ghost than just being dead. When her estranged husband shows up on her doorstep on Halloween, Amelia must face two pasts, both full of pain. Can she help the ghost without becoming eternally haunted? And can she face her own fears and insecurities about her marriage in order to grasp the second chance at happiness her husband offers?

Where did you come up with the concept for your story?
When I wrote this book last year around this time, I wanted to try my hand at doing a ghost story. It morphed into a short with a dual plot line and eventually was one of the first contracts I signed.

Okay, say you have this great idea for a book, what do you do next? How much plotting do you do?
That depends on the book itself. If it’s a complicated plot with complicated characters, I like to outline each chapter as I go along. If I’m very sure of my plot in my head as I start out, then I won’t outline…unless I veer off course.

Do you have a favorite book you’ve written? How about a favorite character?
Actually, I do. Besides Amelia, my upcoming release EXILES FROM CHRISTMAS is a favorite. It’s about a guy who will become the next Santa Claus liking a woman who hates Christmas.

Here’s the blurb: Santa’s nephews have come to Crystal Falls to run a cookie business. If they fail, they’ll have to go back to the North Pole and fill their uncle’s black boots when he retires. But sick of toys, elves, and the North Pole’s influence, that’s the last thing Landon and Aaron want. They’re looking for love.
Jayne isn’t much for sentimental family holidays and she certainly doesn’t believe in magic. Working in the Crystal Falls post office, she is mystified when she handles mail bearing a North Pole postal mark.
When Landon and Jayne meet, their attraction for each other is undeniable, but will the truth about Landon’s life make Jayne a believer, or will it be his love that finally melts her heart?

What do you like to do for fun?
Besides writing? LOL I like to read but barring that, baking and cooking is what relaxes me and stimulates my brain into better creativity. When not being a home body, I like to travel. Disney World is my go to destination of choice

Do you have a favorite food or snack that you absolutely can’t live without?
Chocolate, especially if a rejection comes my way.

What advice can you offer for any aspiring authors out there?
First and foremost, don’t give up, no matter how bleak or hard circumstances seem at the time. Gather some friends around you that believe in your talent no matter what and who will constantly kick you in the pants to keep you on track. You can’t succeed if you throw in the towel.

Where can we purchase your book? And do you have a website we can visit?
Now for the fun stuff! Please do drop by my website at http://www.sandrasookoo.
THE HAUNTING OF AMELIA PRITCHART can be purchased at http://www.thewildrosepress.com
EXILES FROM CHRISTMAS releases November 16th from Lyrical Press at http://www.lyricalpress.com. Feel free to take a look. I’ve got another book available over there as well.

Thank you for joining me today, Sandra. I’ve enjoyed getting to know you better and hearing about your wonderful books.